NBA Punishing Floppers? New Committee Meets to Discuss Rule Changes

New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni questions a call by referee Brian Forte (45) against the Charlotte Bobcats during their NBA basketball game in Charlotte, North Carolina March 26, 2011.

By
Jim Gardner , Christian Post Contributor

September 30, 2012|8:39 am

The NBA may start punishing floppers after the league's new competition committee met on Friday to talk about how to deal with those who use "trickery" and "deceit."

David Stern and Jeff Can Gundy mat along with the rest of the committee to discuss a strategy to tackle the flopping problem, and although new rules have not yet been put in place, numerous reports indicate the league is likely ti implement some type of punishment for floppers.

The core punishment being touted touted for those found guilty if flopping is to be issued a fine after games.

Stern has referred to flopping as "deceit" and "trickery." He has said that under new rules a player could receive a letter after a game stating something like, "Greetings from the league office. You have been assigned flopper status."

He added, "No, I'm joking, but something like that. That sort of lets people know that it's not enough to say 'it's all part of the game'," according to The Inquisitr.

Stern has said that generally the committee acknowledged the problem and were in favor of implementing some type of punishment for those found guilty of the offense, but that exactly what should be done about it is yet to be decided.

Stern said, "If you continue to do this, you may you have to suffer some consequences. What those exactly should be and what the progression is is to be decided … We want to put a stake in the ground that says this is not something that we want to be part of our game, without coming down with a sledgehammer but just doing it in a minimalist way to begin stamping it out. And I think there are ways we can do that and we'll have to wait and see exactly what we come up with," according to Inquisitr.

If the competition committee does decide on a course of action, their decision will not be implemented right away, but instead will be forwarded on to the league's Board of Governors for review and approval. If the Board back the proposals then the league's rules could be changed.